Fortune, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Fortune is a harbour town in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Eastern region, on the southern Burin Peninsula. It sits around Fortune Barasway, a sheltered inlet where Fortune Brook meets the sea, and it is known today as the Newfoundland gateway for ferry travel to Saint-Pierre.
For travellers, Fortune is more than a departure point. Its harbour, town history and Burin Peninsula setting make it a strong place to understand the southern coast before or after a ferry connection.
How Fortune Started
Fortune developed around a sheltered harbour. The barasway gave fishing crews, merchants and residents a protected place to work in a coast where weather and access mattered every day.
The town’s own history points to a community shaped by fishing, local industry and public life. Fortune Brook, the harbour and shoreline businesses helped organize the settlement, while the early twentieth century brought notable local enterprises and meetings tied to labour, trade and community organization.
As the Burin Peninsula’s economy shifted, Fortune kept its maritime role. The harbour remained central, but the town also became associated with ferry travel, public services and the scenic approach to Newfoundland’s south coast.
What Fortune Is Like Today
Fortune had a population of about 1,285 in the 2021 census. It remains a small town with municipal services, harbour activity, local businesses, homes, churches and road connections to other Burin Peninsula communities.
The ferry connection to Saint-Pierre gives Fortune a visitor role that many towns of similar size do not have. Travellers may arrive with passports, schedules and onward plans, but the town itself deserves attention: its streets, harbour and coastal setting explain why this place became a community in the first place.
Fortune is quiet outside busy travel periods, and that can be part of the appeal.
The town also has the practical infrastructure of a Burin Peninsula service stop: municipal offices, local accommodations, food options, churches and roads that connect smaller coves and coastal landscapes.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start at the harbour and town centre. Look for the relationship between Fortune Brook, the barasway and the streets that grew around them. If you are using the ferry, give yourself enough time to park, check documents and still see the town rather than rushing through.
The Burin Peninsula road network offers longer coastal drives, while Fortune Head and nearby geological and shoreline sites add natural-history context to the area. Keep local conditions in mind: fog, wind and ferry schedules can shape the day as much as distance on a map.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Eastern
- Community type: Town
- Population: 1,285 in the 2021 census
- Key routes: Route 220 and local Burin Peninsula roads
- Official website: Town of Fortune
Travel Notes
Fortune is easiest to visit by car. If you are travelling by ferry to Saint-Pierre, check sailing times, document requirements and weather updates before leaving your accommodation.
Small-town services may be limited outside regular hours. Build in time for fuel, food and local errands before a ferry departure or a long Burin Peninsula drive.